Package construction



Feb. '3, 1948.

E. W. INGRAM, SR

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 18, 1944 amen Viv! Edgar WI Ingram,Sn

Patented Feb. 3, 1948 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTIQN Edgar W. Ingram, Sr., Columbus, Ohio, assignor to White Castle System, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 18, 1944, Serial No. 550,039. 7

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to box construction and is particularly concerned with folding paperboard boxes of the type which are open at one end to receive various commodities.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel package comprising two or more duplicative box sections wherein each of the latter is provided with an open end and a pair of adjacent fastening extensions, means being provided for effecting interlocking engagement between the extensions to provide a composite merchandise-confining package closed on all its sides for the secure protection of articles confined therein.

In one of its practical applications, the improved package forming the present invention is especially useful in the packaging of restaurantprepared sandwiches on so-called take-out" orders. Heretofore, such sandwiches have been placed in open-ended boxes or cartons, and when two or more of the same have been ordered by a customer, it has been the practice to place the sandwiches in the boxes or cartons and thereafter insert the same in a paper bag for the convenience of the customer in their carrying.

In order to eliminate the employment of such a paper bag, and save the cost thereof, the present invention provides the fastening extensions of such open-ended cartons with interlocking tongues and slots, so that after a sandwich, for instance, has been inserted in each of a pair of such boxes, the latter may be longitudinally aligned with their open ends and fastening extensions in adjacent order and interlocked in connected engagement by insertion of the tongues thereon into receiving slots provided therefor, thus preventing accidental separation of the joined boxes and providing a composite package which may be readily handled by a customer without the need for a separate paper bag.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of interconnected box sections formed in accordance with the present invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, of the joined box sections;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of said box sections when separated;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of one of the box sections.

Each of the box sections utilized by the present invention comprises a paperboard or other body folded and glue lapped to provide spaced parallel front and back panels I and 2, respectively, the

. the slots 9.

latter being united y side panels a, The closed.

bottom of each box section is formed by conventional flaps 4 which arefolded and interlocked in a conventional manner to retain an article, such as a prepared restaurant sandwich, within the confines of the box.

Each'box or box section includes an open upper or outer end -5. adjacent to whichthe front and back panels are extended to provide fastening extensions'fi constituting continuations of front and back panels and occupying the same. planes these box sections in end to end, interconnected. relationship'the extensions 6 of each thereof are arcuately cut or severed completely through the thickness of the same as at l to form tongues 8. Also, the front and back panels are similarly cut or severed as at 9 to provide weakened regions III.

In the use of the package, with the box sections separated, as in Fig. 3, an article of merchandise is inserted into each of the same through the open ends 5. Then, to unite the box sections in interconnected relationship, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the same are placed in longitudinal alignment with their open ends adjoining and with the fastening extensions in telescoped order, so that the tongues 8 on one section may be caused to enter the slots 9 provided in the other box section as a result of the formation of the weakened regions ill. The tongues 8, as shown in Fig. 2, are forced inwardly immediately adjacent to the regions ill of the complemental box section to engage shoulders ll thereof formed by Such engagement can be conveniently effected by the operator in a quick and facile manner and occurs virtually instantly with the telescoping of the box extensions. The two box sections are thus securely united against accidental longitudinal separation and a composite package is produced. The box sections are of duplicative construction and therefore no rights or lefts are required.

As shown in Fig. 4, a third box section may be attached to form a composite package by providing the front and back panels I and 2 of each box section adjacent to the closed end thereof with slots I2 which are adapted to receive the tongues 8 of a third box section, or other additional numbers may be similarly united.

It will thus be seen that the construction herein provided permits of the ready association in end to end relationship of a plurality of box sections which, when interconnected, form a composite package closed on all sides. The package may be handled as a unit and eliminates ,formed with integral extensions which project forwardly in parallelrelatlon at the open end of each section beyond the adjacent terminating edges of the side panels, said extension-s being;

the need formed at one end of each box section with a closure flap, the opposite end of each box section being open and devoid of closure elements: said front and back panels of each box section being formed with integral extensions, which project forwardly in parallel relation at the open end of each section beyond the adjacent terminating edges of the side panels, said extensions being freely flexible and arranged in overlapping relation when said box sections are assembled with their open ends in contiguous registering relationship; integral arcuately shaped tongues formed with said flexible extensions, and rectangular slit means of greater width than said tongues" formed in the front and back panels of each of said sections in spaced longitudinal alignrnent, with said tongues, the slit means of one freely flexible and arranged in overlapping relatlon when said box sections are assembled with their open ends in contiguous registering relationship; integral tongues formed with said fiexi ble extensions, and slit means formed with the front and backpanels of each of said sections in spaced longitudinal alignment with said tongues, the slit means of one of said box sections being engaged with the tongues of the complemental hoxsection, whereby when said sections are in assembled relationship the same will be held by the engagement of said tongue with said slit of said box sections being engaged with the tongues of the complemental box section, whereby when said sections are in assembled relationship: the same will be held by the engagement of said tongue with said slit means to retain the boxsections against relative longitudinal movement.

EDGAR W. INGRAM, SR.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the means to retain the box sections against relae t Patent! tive longitudinal movement.

, 2. A package comprising aipail 0f dupllcatlve box, sections. of foldabl paperboard composition, ea h of said sections being formed from a single blank of material folded to comprise front, back and, side panels, at least one of the latter being;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Fountain June 17, 1930. 

